Prismas trasescalares en el estudio de las migraciones

This article aims to reflect on the way social anthropology can contribute to the study of migrations and, simultaneously, to “find out” what the discipline can also learn from this field of study, and thus to transfer its knowledge to other areas. From here we will learn how important here and there are for the study of migrations, not as situations or places, but as constructed and reconstructed notions of identification processes. From that point, we will try to show some examples of our ethnographic research that lead to the analysis of the concept of situation from its relational dimension. A notion of context that shouldn’t be seen in relation to space, but in the provision of meanings for the social and cultural events within it. Therefore a trans-scalar approach of anthropology will arise in a global context and referring to any sociocultural pnenomenon. Such an approach wil lead to the enforcement of a multisited ethnography.El presente artículo pretende reflexionar sobre lo que la antropología social puede aportar al estudio de las migraciones y, a la vez, “descubrir” lo que puede aprender también la disciplina de este campo de estudio, y, de esta manera transdisciplinar, sus saberes. De aquí aprenderemos lo importante que es para el estudio de las migraciones el aquí y allí no como situaciones o lugares, sino como nociones que construyen y reconstruyen los procesos de identificación. Desde ellos trataremos de mostrar varios ejemplos de nuestras investigaciones etnográficas, que nos pongan en la situación de analizar el concepto de contexto desde sus dimensiones relacionales. Es una noción de contexto que no debe dimensionarse en lo espacial, sino en la dotación de significados de los acontecimientos sociales y culturales que deben ser inscritos en él. De todo ello surgirá el enfoque transescalar, que en un contexto global debe tomar la antropología en el estudio de cualquier fenómeno sociocultural, lo que le obligará a intensificar una etnografía multisituada

The Study of spatiotemporal patterns integrating temporal uncertainty in late prehistoric settlements in northeastern Spain

This paper explores the integration of two variables that are typically difficult to use in spatial analysis: time and uncertainty. A framework is constructed to analyse mid- and long-term variation in settlement dynamics during late prehistory in northeastern Spain. Following previous proposals, an aoristic model is built with ceramic dating to feed a Monte Carlo simulation that explores the case study using a discrete time-step approach. At the same time, available radiometric dating is used to validate the accuracy of the simulation results. Departing from the static analysis of spatial variables, the model proposes a new approach by which researchers can address temporal uncertainty. The results show that patterns detected by classical spatial analysis can be produced by artefacts derived from the division of time in chronologies instead of discrete time periods. The model is also used to compare a-priori identical variations whose rate of change, when analysed with this approach, is revealed to be completely different

Mapping changes in late prehistoric landscapes: a case study in the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula

The temporal span of the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age (1300-550) saw the emergence of intense interconnectivity in the Mediterranean sea. The development of colonial trade dramatically increased cultural exchange along its coasts as can be observed in archaeological evidence. These large scale processes had an impact at all scales and territories close to the main trade routes. However, the process was extremely diverse in its forms. This work presents a case study focused on two adjacent areas in the coast of the NE Iberian Peninsula. Spatial analysis has been carried out to explore the trajectories of settlement location dynamics during the whole period. Basic geographic variables, mobility and distance to trade routes have been explored to identify key differences over periods and areas. Results indicate that the factors guiding settlements location varied between the two zones. Moreover, one of the areas was radically influenced by trade routes in the Early Iron Age while the other did not seem to be affected by this external factor. The interpretation of these analyses suggests that the rise in connectivity was not homogeneous over the Western Mediterranean, but in the regions where it took place this factor was decisive to explain their historical trajectories

Perceptions, attitudes, and barriers to obesity management in Spain: Results from the spanish cohort of the international ACTION-IO observation study

The prevalence of obesity is rapidly rising in Spain. The Awareness, Care and Treatment in Obesity Management—An International Observation (ACTION-IO) study (NCT03584191) was an international cross-sectional survey conducted to identify the perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers to obesity management for people with obesity (PwO) and healthcare professionals (HCPs); results from Spain are presented. In Spain, 1500 PwO (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 based on self-reported height and weight) and 306 HCPs (in direct patient care for ≥2 years) completed the survey. Fewer PwO (59%) than HCPs (93%) agreed that obesity is a chronic disease. Most PwO (80%) assumed complete responsibility for their own weight loss, whilst 19% of HCPs placed the responsibility on PwO. One-fifth of PwO stated they began struggling with weight before age 15. The mean delay in discussing weight for the first time with an HCP was 6 years. Only 24% of HCPs thought their patients were motivated to lose weight, whilst 45% of PwO reported being motivated. Of the 67% of PwO who had discussed their weight with an HCP in the last 5 years, 66% had been formally diagnosed with obesity. Our Spanish dataset reveals discrepancies in the perceptions and attitudes between PwO and HCPs, thus highlighting the need to improve education about obesity and its clinical management

Lead free piezoelectric ceramics based on Bi0.5(Na0.8K0.2)0.5TiO3 y K0.5Na0.5NbO3 systems

Los materiales cerámicos basados en circonato-titanato de plomo, Pb(Zr,Ti)O3(PZT), son muy conocidos por sus excelentes propiedades piezoeléctricas. Si bien, estos materiales se producen generalmente a partir de la técnica de mezcla de óxidos, la cual es relativamente simple y económica, en su formulación se emplea un alto contenido de óxido de plomo (aprox. 70%). Dado que el plomo y sus compuestos son considerados tóxicos y peligrosos, no sólo por la polución directa que genera el proceso de manufactura y maquinado de los compuestos, sino también porque los productos que contienen PZT no pueden ser reciclados, recientemente se han comenzado a investigar diferentes composiciones piezoeléctricas para su reemplazo. En este trabajo, se analizan algunos desarrollos propios en el campo de los materiales piezoeléctricos libres de plomo donde se enfatiza la correlación existente entre las propiedades finales, la microestructura desarrollada y la estructura estabilizada.Ceramics based on lead zirconium titanate Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) are well known for their excellent piezoelectric properties. These materials are generally produced by solid reaction technique, which is relatively simple and economical; however their production needs high lead oxide content (approx. 70%). Lead and its compounds are considered toxic and dangerous, due to direct pollution generated by the manufacturing process and machining of the compounds, and the inability to recycle products containing PZT. Therefore, other piezoelectric compositions based on lead free materials have begun investigated. In this paper, some developments in the field of lead-free piezoelectric materials, correlating the structure and microstructure with the properties materials properties are analyzed.Fil: Castro, Miriam Susana. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); ArgentinaFil: Camargo, Javier Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); ArgentinaFil: Taub, Jonathan. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, J. F.. Instituto de Ceramica y Vidrio de Madrid; EspañaFil: Rubio-Marcos, F.. Instituto de Ceramica y Vidrio de Madrid; EspañaFil: Ramajo, Leandro Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentin

Bayesian modelling of skewness and kurtosis with two-piece scale and shape transformations

We introduce the family of univariate double two–piece distributions, obtained by using a density– based transformation of unimodal symmetric continuous distributions with a shape parameter. The resulting distributions contain five interpretable parameters that control the mode, as well as the scale and shape in each direction. Four-parameter subfamilies of this class of distributions that capture different types of asymmetry are presented. We propose interpretable scale and location-invariant benchmark priors and derive conditions for the existence of the corresponding posterior distribution. The prior structures used allow for meaningful comparisons through Bayes factors within flexible families of distributions. These distributions are applied to models in finance, internet traffic data, and medicine, comparing them with appropriate competitors

Studies for the application of an adaptative controller to hydroturbine generators

This paper describes some studies made towards the automatization of hydroturbine generators with microcomputers. The overall design will include an automata controlling the starting-up and shutting-down procedure as well as an self-tuning regulator for the speed control. A self-tuning regulator based on the classical pole-assignment-method is studied. The algorithm uses a fast procedure for solving the polynomial equation implicit to selfturner regulator. This procedure is very simple from a computational point of view as only applications of elementary transformations on a 2 x 2 polynomial matrix are needed.The algorithm has been programmed on a Digital PDP 1103 computer and applied to some test problems

Smartphone-Enabled Personalized Diagnostics: Current Status and Future Prospects

Biosensors; Mètodes moleculars; Diagnòstics basat en telèfons intel·ligentsBiosensores; Métodos moleculares; Diagnósticos basados en teléfonos inteligentesBiosensors; Molecular methods; Smarthphone-based diagnosticsSmartphones are becoming increasingly versatile thanks to the wide variety of sensor and actuator systems packed in them. Mobile devices today go well beyond their original purpose as communication devices, and this enables important new applications, ranging from augmented reality to the Internet of Things. Personalized diagnostics is one of the areas where mobile devices can have the greatest impact. Hitherto, the camera and communication abilities of these devices have been barely exploited for point of care (POC) purposes. This short review covers the recent evolution of mobile devices in the area of POC diagnostics and puts forward some ideas that may facilitate the development of more advanced applications and devices in the area of personalized diagnostics. With this purpose, the potential exploitation of wireless power and actuation of sensors and biosensors using near field communication (NFC), the use of the screen as a light source for actuation and spectroscopic analysis, using the haptic module to enhance mass transport in micro volumes, and the use of magnetic sensors are discussed.Financial support from the Basque Government under the ELKARTEK program is also acknowledged. EB is funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III, cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund (grant CPII18/00025)

Distinct fos-expressing neuronal ensembles in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex mediate food reward and extinction memories

In operant learning, initial reward-associated memories are thought to be distinct from subsequent extinction-associated memories. Memories formed during operant learning are thought to be stored in “neuronal ensembles.” Thus, we hypothesize that different neuronal ensembles encode reward- and extinction-associated memories. Here, we examined prefrontal cortex neuronal ensembles involved in the recall of reward and extinction memories of food self-administration.Wefirst trained rats to lever press for palatable food pellets for 7 d (1 h/d) and then exposed them to 0, 2, or 7 daily extinction sessions in which lever presses were not reinforced. Twenty-four hours after the last training or extinction session, we exposed the rats to either a short 15 min extinction test session or left them in their homecage (a control condition). We found maximal Fos (a neuronal activity marker) immunoreactivity in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex of rats that previously received 2 extinction sessions, suggesting that neuronal ensembles in this area encode extinction memories. We then used the Daun02 inactivation procedure to selectively disrupt ventral medial prefrontal cortex neuronal ensembles that were activated during the 15 min extinction session following 0 (no extinction) or 2 prior extinction sessions to determine the effects of inactivating the putative food reward and extinction ensembles, respectively, on subsequent nonreinforced food seeking 2 d later. Inactivation of the food reward ensembles decreased food seeking, whereas inactivation of the extinction ensembles increased food seeking. Our results indicate that distinct neuronal ensembles encoding operant reward and extinction memories intermingle within the same cortical area

TranscriptAchilles: a genome-wide platform to predict isoform biomarkers of gene essentiality in cancer

Background Aberrant alternative splicing plays a key role in cancer development. In recent years, alternative splicing has been used as a prognosis biomarker, a therapy response biomarker, and even as a therapeutic target. Next-generation RNA sequencing has an unprecedented potential to measure the transcriptome. However, due to the complexity of dealing with isoforms, the scientific community has not sufficiently exploited this valuable resource in precision medicine. Findings We present TranscriptAchilles, the first large-scale tool to predict transcript biomarkers associated with gene essentiality in cancer. This application integrates 412 loss-of-function RNA interference screens of >17,000 genes, together with their corresponding whole-transcriptome expression profiling. Using this tool, we have studied which are the cancer subtypes for which alternative splicing plays a significant role to state gene essentiality. In addition, we include a case study of renal cell carcinoma that shows the biological soundness of the results. The databases, the source code, and a guide to build the platform within a Docker container are available at GitLab. The application is also available online. Conclusions TranscriptAchilles provides a user-friendly web interface to identify transcript or gene biomarkers of gene essentiality, which could be used as a starting point for a drug development project. This approach opens a wide range of translational applications in cancer